January 17, 2013UncategorizedComments Off on Fairfax chooses Auckland editor-in-chief, to run Sunday papers and digital products

Press Release – Fairfax Media
Experienced editor and journalist Garry Ferris has been appointed to the new role of Auckland editor-in-chief for Fairfax Media. In his new role, Mr Ferris will be responsible for Fairfax’s print and digital products in Auckland as well as for the Sunday Star-Times and the Sunday News.

He will lead Fairfax’s 100-strong Auckland newsroom that services the Sunday titles and a stable of community newspapers and websites as well providing Auckland coverage for the wider Fairfax group.

He takes up the role on February 4.

Mr Ferris, 44, is from New Zealand and during his career has held a number of senior editorial roles in New Zealand, Australia and the UK.

Most recently he has held senior roles in Queensland with News Limited, including a stint as deputy editor of Brisbane’s Sunday Mail.

He also spent eight years in Sydney, initially working for The Australian during the 2000 Sydney Olympics before moving on to The Daily Telegraph. He was editor of the Mountain Scene community newspaper in Queenstown from 2004 to 2010 and has also worked at The Press and Otago Daily Times.

Fairfax Media group executive editor Paul Thompson said Mr Ferris brought a unique mix of skills and experience to his new job.

“Garry has worked at a senior level for daily papers, community papers and on a Sunday title, and has a passion for high-quality journalism. This is an exciting appointment. Garry is ideally equipped to take on the challenge of leading our team in Auckland.”

Mr Ferris said: “It is the dream newsroom – two iconic mastheads we all have grown up with on a Sunday morning; a clutch of community papers that are the heartbeat of our biggest city; and a website bringing us the news we need to know every day.

“The business of newspapers is ever-changing but in the newsroom our role remains the same: to produce great journalism – and be first with it. Our challenge, then, is to deliver those stories to our readers when they want it, and on whatever platform they choose.”